Hybrid 3D printing: a game-changer in personalized cardiac medicine?

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2015 Dec;13(12):1281-4. doi: 10.1586/14779072.2015.1100076. Epub 2015 Oct 14.

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing in congenital heart disease has the potential to increase procedural efficiency and patient safety by improving interventional and surgical planning and reducing radiation exposure. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are usually the source datasets to derive 3D printing. More recently, 3D echocardiography has been demonstrated to derive 3D-printed models. The integration of multiple imaging modalities for hybrid 3D printing has also been shown to create accurate printed heart models, which may prove to be beneficial for interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and as an educational tool. Further advancements in the integration of different imaging modalities into a single platform for hybrid 3D printing and virtual 3D models will drive the future of personalized cardiac medicine.

Keywords: 3D segmentation; 3D ultrasound; cardiac imaging; cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; computed tomography; congenital heart disease; hybrid 3D printing; integration; rapid prototyping; simulation.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Heart Defects, Congenital* / diagnosis
  • Heart Defects, Congenital* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Models, Cardiovascular*
  • Precision Medicine / methods
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods